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By:
Harrison Maina | |||||||||
| Posted:
Aug,19-2015 09:14:44
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LOWELL, Mass.,--In what many hailed as one of the most significant and impacting funds drives by Kenyans in Boston, well wishers raised over $30,000 Sunday evening towards kidney transplant fees of George Njoroge, a 34 year old, poverty struck father of two stuck in his rural village of Naivasha Kenya with dwindling hopes of living further as the disease slowly consumes him.
According to the fundraiser organizing committee, Njoroge needed about $40,000 (KES4 million) to foot the bill of transporting him, his sister (the matching donor) and a caretaker to India as well as pay for the two surgeries needed. But although the amount raised on Sunday did not quite meet the target, organizers were thankful and upbeat for the massive effort that will see over 90% of the bill paid for the transplant to start. Hopes were high among family and friends that many Kenyans and well wishers who were not able to make it to the fund raiser would forward their donations that will hopefully top up the remaining $10,000.
The epic fundraiser took place at the PCEA Neema church in Lowell where many Kenyans present praised the patient's aunt, Hannah Karanja (Wamuita) for her rare display of compassion towards her nephew predicament. Hannah was also lauded for her courage to seek funds from her local community in Boston in a bid to save Njoroge's life, so he can be there to provide for his family of 3 children and a wife--all who barely survive as peasant farmers back in Naivasha. "This is a great development. The money raised today will definitely go a long way towards helping Njoroge get the treatment underway. We thank all who contributed from the bottom of our hearts. We hope that others will step up to make the remaining funds available," said Anne Maina (Mama Ndung'u), speaking on behalf of Hannah Wamuita while moving a vote of thanks at the end of the event. "It is very rare for someone to think of the other the way Hannah has taken concern of her nephew who is suffering in Kenya. Right now, Njoroge who is sick in Kenya don't know if he will even be alive tomorrow. His entire hope is on what we will do here today. Let us unite as Kenyans to support this cause. We will do our part and pray that God will provide the healing to the ailing father the treatment begins," said Rev. Samuel Kimohu, pastor of the St. Stephens church while leading in a brief sermon right before the actual funds drive kicked off. According to the family, two fund raisers had been done in Kenya last year towards the transplant. However, due to the insufficient amounts raised, the transplant was postponed and the raised funds spent towards dialysis treatment to keep Njoroge alive as the family searched for enough funds. Several women present were moved to tears by the story of the suffering father of three and the genuine effort by local Diaspora Kenyans to try and help him out of the predicament. Welcoming Kenyans to the event, Rev. Dr. Karimu Mumbui of the PCEA Neema church also thanked Wamuita for approaching the community with the very urgent need our of her concern.
He said that is a good thing that Kenyans in the area can contribute to lift a suffering family out of their misery. Thanking Kenyans for their support, Wamuita admitted that she was unsure if the community would be willing to come forward and help her save the life of her nephew. "I did not think it would work out but I just convinced myself with the help of some family and friends that it will work. I thank all the guests of honors and Kenyans who came here, pastors and even those who have prayed for this thing out there. Thank you very much for the support you have shown me and my nephew. I pray that God bless you all," said Hannah Wamuita, the patients auntie.
The event was conducted by Peter Kahora, a long time emcee in the Kenyan community who had gone for a while without doing his community gig due to tight family and work schedules. "I am very happy that we were able to succeed very well at raising these funds today. This is a big effort on the part of the Kenyan community here and we applaud everyone for it. We hope the spirit of togetherness continues," said Kahora while winding down the fund raiser. Several Kenyans praised the event as the most significant in the community especially in the wake of the recent multiple burial fundraisers that saw Kenyans donate more than $200,000 in about 2 months to ship dead compatriots back to the motherland. "We have been donating a lot of money like the $70,000 and $47,000 we raised recently for burials of dead individuals here in Lowell. This fundraiser today one is more important since we are helping save the life of someone of who already alive, and can then move on to support his children.This is very commendable and we should be coming together to do more of this," said one Kenyan mother who requested anonymity. Funds can also be deposited at the following Bank of America Account: Name: Hannah Karanja Savings Act #:4662-651699 Routing #:011000138 Zip Code:01851 For more info, call: Hannah Karanja: 978-677-4422 Wille Mbugua: 978- 851-2364, 978- 437-7191 Susan Karanja- 978-319-5195 Lawrence Mwaura- 978- 596-5134 | |||||||||
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Source:
Ajabu Africa News
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